Protect Your Furry Friend During the COLD Weather

And Meet only the CUTEST puppy EVER that Penny from the Capital Area Humane Society brought by the studio today! Cherie is a 2 1/2 month old Pit bull / Terrier mix and is available for adoption now. One of the first things I noticed on her though was her pretty pink sweater and I started thinking about this awful below zero temperatures and spoke a little with Penny about it and did more research because it's important to keep your furry friends warm too! Here's what I learned:

• If you're cold, chances are your pet is cold. Fur alone doesn't protect against the harsh cold, so if you're going to take them out for a bathroom break keep it quick and sweater/dog jackets help! Otherwise keep the pets indoors as much as possible
• Don't leave your pet in the car, even if you're just running in for a second. Your car can actually have a refrigerator effect in the winter and get colder inside than outside.
• Frostbite can be a problem for some dogs, check their ear tips and tail tips for coldness, a white, red or gray appearance or if they are dry and hard. If so frostbite may have occurred. Wrap their extremities in a towel or blankets to gradually warm them and contact your vet ASAP!
• Give your pets plenty of food and water. Especially pets who spend a lot of time outdoors need more food in the winter because keeping warm depletes energy. Also use plastic food and water bowls instead of metal so your pet's tongue won't stick to the metal!
• Protect their paws from salt. Wipe all paws with a damp towel after a walk to keep Fido from licking the salt or irritating their paws.
• Be careful with cats, wildlife and cars. Warm engines in parked cars can attract cats and other small animals. Bang on your car's hood to scare them away before starting your engine!

And if you'd like to adopt Cherie, here is the link to this super CUTE puppy who I absolutely love!